Ruth Vincent (born Amy Ruth Bunn, 3 December 1873[1] – 8 July 1955) was an English opera singer and actress, best remembered for her performances insoprano roles of theSavoy Operas with theD'Oyly Carte Opera Company in the 1890s and her roles in theWest End during the first decade of the 20th century, particularly her role as Sophia inTom Jones.
Vincent joined D'Oyly Carte in 1894 in the chorus at the age of 17. She began to play small roles in 1896, taking on larger roles inGilbert and Sullivan revivals the following year and soon creating leading roles including Iza inThe Grand Duchess of Gerolstein (1897–98), Laine inThe Beauty Stone (1898) and Princess Laoula inThe Lucky Star (1899). She also continued to sing leading roles in Gilbert and Sullivan revivals, including Casilda inThe Gondoliers and Aline inThe Sorcerer in 1898 and Josephine inH.M.S. Pinafore in 1899. Unhappy to be passed over for the leading soprano role inThe Rose of Persia, Vincent left the company near the end of 1899.
After this, Vincent went on to a substantial career inEdwardian musical comedies, opera and concert singing. She created leadingWest End roles inVéronique (1904–05),Tom Jones (1907),The Belle of Brittany (1909) and several others, and she also performed onBroadway. From 1910, she began agrand opera career atCovent Garden andDrury Lane and then toured inoratorio and concerts and also in variety shows, performing until 1930.
Vincent was born as Amy Ruth Bunn inYarmouth,Norfolk, in 1873 to Emma (née Long and Henry Vincent Bunn, a butcher.[1][2] She studied singing with a teacher inNorwich, thenHerman Klein in London.[3][4]
Vincent joined theD'Oyly Carte Opera Company in the chorus ofThe Chieftain at theSavoy Theatre in 1894 at the age of 17. In 1895, she toured the British provinces in the chorus. At the Savoy, she created the small part of Gretchen inThe Grand Duke in 1896 and also occasionally played the larger role of Lisa. She sang in the chorus during the subsequent revival ofThe Mikado and then created the small role of Dorothea inHis Majesty (byF. C. Burnand andAlexander MacKenzie) in 1897. She sang the role of Kate in the first revival ofThe Yeomen of the Guard beginning in 1897, filling in briefly in the leading role of Elsie in July of that year, then was given the part in August whenIlka Pálmay left the company.[5]
For the next two years, Vincent was the company's principal soprano, playing the leading roles of Iza inThe Grand Duchess of Gerolstein (1897–98)[n 1] and Casilda inThe Gondoliers (1898), creating the role of Laine inThe Beauty Stone (1898), singing Aline inThe Sorcerer (1898), creating the part of Princess Laoula inThe Lucky Star (early 1899), and playing Josephine inH.M.S. Pinafore (later in 1899).[7] When she was passed over for the leading soprano part of Sultana Zubedyah inThe Rose of Persia, Vincent rejected the part that she was offered ("Scent-of-Lilies") and left the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in November 1899. As it turned out,Ellen Beach Yaw, the American soprano cast as the Sultana, was dismissed after only two weeks in the role, and the opportunity to replace her went to youngIsabel Jay.[8]
Vincent's younger sister, Madge Vincent, was a D'Oyly Carte chorister from 1898 to 1900 and also had a subsequent musical theatre career.[7]
Vincent did eventually get a chance to play the Sultana inThe Rose of Persia in New York in the 1900Charles Frohman production at Daly's Theatre (co-starringJohn Le Hay). She married Lieutenant Colonel John Fraser of theRoyal Horse Guards and retired from the stage for a few years while continuing her vocal studies in Paris withJacques Bouhy.[3] She later studied in Berlin with Mme. Corelli.[9] Vincent returned to the London stage inmusical theatre roles, including as Merva Sunningdale inThe Medal and the Maid in 1903 (and in New York in 1904). She played the title roles in theWest End inVéronique in 1904–05[4] (and in New York 1905–06) andA Girl on the Stage in 1906. She was the Plaintiff inTrial by Jury in theEllen Terry Jubilee celebration on 12 June 1906 and the title role of Princess Amasis inAmasis: An Egyptian Princess in 1906–07.[10]The English Illustrated Magazine wrote that Vincent "has some charming songs, to which her full rich voice gives admirable effect."[11] She next starred as Sophie inTom Jones (1907) and in the title roles inThe Belle of Brittany andA Persian Princess, both in 1909.[7]
In 1910 Vincent made her debut ingrand opera inThomas Beecham's seasons atCovent Garden andDrury Lane, singing inHansel and Gretel (as Hansel),Così fan Tutte (as Fiordiligi),[12]The Tales of Hoffmann (as Antonia),Carmen (as Micaela) andDon Giovanni (as Zerlina). She created the role of Vrenchen (the Juliet role) inDelius's opera,A Village Romeo and Juliet.[3][13]The Manchester Guardian commented, "Miss Ruth Vincent acted with much sincerity and charm as Vrenchen, and sang admirably ... she has a voice of remarkable purity, capable of great expression."[14]
Vincent performed a concert tour of the British provinces in 1911 and sang in her firstoratorio,Messiah, in 1912 at theAlbert Hall,[15] and inElijah at theThree Choirs Festivals at Hereford in 1912[16] and Gloucester in 1913.[17] In her later years, she appeared in concert, in oratorio (includingHiawatha staged annually under conductorMalcolm Sargent and others at the Albert Hall), and in variety shows at theLondon Palladium, theColiseum Theatre and in the provinces.[18] Vincent retired in 1930.[3] Her hobbies included riding horses and gardening.[4]
Vincent died in London in 1955.[7] Some of her personal possessions were sold at auction at Christies in London in January 2000.[19]
Vincent made a number of recordings of songs for HMV and Columbia between 1904 and 1920 including "The Waltz Song" fromEdward German'sTom Jones, and songs byLuigi Arditi,Haydn Wood,Percy Fletcher, andFrederic Hymen Cowen.[20] Her voice can be heard on the CDThe Art of the Savoyard (Pearl GEMM CD 9991).[7]
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